| Dogs of importance... |
Sharnberry Shooter
Marnissa Mariner
| FTCh Marnissa Mariner on point in 1971 |
Leon spent 6 months working in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1960s. There he met the leading
Australian pointer breeder/trialist Jack Pontin. Pontin was very much an Australian version of the
Danish legend Peter Jensen (Zita pointer kennel). Leon saw Pontin handle his two dual champions
Marnissa Moira and Marnissa Mogul in the final run of a trial. "These two dogs put on an exhibition of
sustained brilliant bird work. These dogs were of pure Blackfield breeding, from the exceptional G and
F litters. When Pontin bred Marnissa Moira with her father Blackfield Garry, Leon had already ordered
a pup. That way Marnissa Mariner came to New Zealand. In Australia two of his siblings became top
dogs: Dual Ch Marnissa Marsden and FTCh Marnissa Marilyn.
Mariner arrived in New Zealand at fourteen weeks. He was soon to display a great natural ability to
range and find birds, all done at a blinding speed. He won his first of two North Island Championships
at eighteen months old. "His run was one of the most memorable during forty years of trialing."
He gained his FTCh-title. Unfortunately he later got some health problems and proved to be sterile.
Australian pointer breeder/trialist Jack Pontin. Pontin was very much an Australian version of the
Danish legend Peter Jensen (Zita pointer kennel). Leon saw Pontin handle his two dual champions
Marnissa Moira and Marnissa Mogul in the final run of a trial. "These two dogs put on an exhibition of
sustained brilliant bird work. These dogs were of pure Blackfield breeding, from the exceptional G and
F litters. When Pontin bred Marnissa Moira with her father Blackfield Garry, Leon had already ordered
a pup. That way Marnissa Mariner came to New Zealand. In Australia two of his siblings became top
dogs: Dual Ch Marnissa Marsden and FTCh Marnissa Marilyn.
Mariner arrived in New Zealand at fourteen weeks. He was soon to display a great natural ability to
range and find birds, all done at a blinding speed. He won his first of two North Island Championships
at eighteen months old. "His run was one of the most memorable during forty years of trialing."
He gained his FTCh-title. Unfortunately he later got some health problems and proved to be sterile.
Shooter was a mix of the very best
from Captain Parlour's famous kennel.
His mother Fleur, who later was sold
to France, was out of the old lines the
Captain had been working with for
thirty years. Fleur was sired by the
legendary 1970 Champion Stake
winner Sharnberry Redbracken (later
sold to USA).
Shooter's father Mattahroo (later sold
to Japan) was from the Irish lines later
mixed into the kennel. Mattahroo was
a brother of Champion Stake winners
Glenahroo and Little Do-Di and also
Sunset Pride. Mattahroo himself won
the English Setter Cup and was
runner-up in the 1973 Champion Stake.
from Captain Parlour's famous kennel.
His mother Fleur, who later was sold
to France, was out of the old lines the
Captain had been working with for
thirty years. Fleur was sired by the
legendary 1970 Champion Stake
winner Sharnberry Redbracken (later
sold to USA).
Shooter's father Mattahroo (later sold
to Japan) was from the Irish lines later
mixed into the kennel. Mattahroo was
a brother of Champion Stake winners
Glenahroo and Little Do-Di and also
Sunset Pride. Mattahroo himself won
the English Setter Cup and was
runner-up in the 1973 Champion Stake.
| FTCh Sharnberry Shooter |
Sharnberry Shooter arrived New Zealand in the early 1970s after a long and not very pleasant trip by
boat. He joined Leon's successful team of dogs whom at the time among others included Wingfield
Annie and the pointer Marnissa Mariner. Shooter had a hunting passion, drive and speed, never seen in
New Zealand before (and perhaps never after). He was a very impressive dog to watch running, and in
Leon's own words "Most people thought he was the best dog they ever had seen, but they didn't have
to train him..." Leon handled him to FTCh and also won the 1976 North Island Championship with
him. At stud Leon was afraid he would throw pups which would be too difficult for the average hunter
/ trainer. He turned out to give some excellent progeny both in the first generation, and even more so in
the second generation, often also successfully line bred on him. In hindsight he should probably have
had more matings than he did. Leon also with success used a Shooter-son called Tad of Colchicus to
sire his K, M and N-litters. He also used another son called Wingfield Gunman and daughters
Wingfield Honey, Wingfield Jemima and Wingfield Kandy. In the later Wingfield litters, Shooter was
found 3 times behind the V and W-litters and 5 times behind the X-litter.
Leon's characteristic of the dog: "He was a trial dog pure and simple."
boat. He joined Leon's successful team of dogs whom at the time among others included Wingfield
Annie and the pointer Marnissa Mariner. Shooter had a hunting passion, drive and speed, never seen in
New Zealand before (and perhaps never after). He was a very impressive dog to watch running, and in
Leon's own words "Most people thought he was the best dog they ever had seen, but they didn't have
to train him..." Leon handled him to FTCh and also won the 1976 North Island Championship with
him. At stud Leon was afraid he would throw pups which would be too difficult for the average hunter
/ trainer. He turned out to give some excellent progeny both in the first generation, and even more so in
the second generation, often also successfully line bred on him. In hindsight he should probably have
had more matings than he did. Leon also with success used a Shooter-son called Tad of Colchicus to
sire his K, M and N-litters. He also used another son called Wingfield Gunman and daughters
Wingfield Honey, Wingfield Jemima and Wingfield Kandy. In the later Wingfield litters, Shooter was
found 3 times behind the V and W-litters and 5 times behind the X-litter.
Leon's characteristic of the dog: "He was a trial dog pure and simple."